"America does not have the fair trade relationship with the EU that it deserves," wrote Tom Rose, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Poland, on X on Tuesday.
His post was a response to Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski’s comments about Americans not fully understanding the European Union. However, the American diplomat soon deleted his post.
Rose, nominated by President Trump, was reacting to Sikorski’s remarks from a Monday interview with Polsat News.
In that discussion, Sikorski referred to Rose’s earlier statement - made before his nomination - where the American suggested that Poland must choose between “moving closer to the center of power in the European Union” or “remaining a sovereign, proud nation that fulfills its allied commitments.”
"This is a very serious issue because I have the impression - and even knowledge - that not everyone in the U.S. understands what the EU is about," Sikorski said.
Sikorski responds after U.S. ambassador nominee criticizes EU taxes
In his now-deleted post, Rose praised Sikorski as a “brilliant and highly respected” diplomat but also accused the EU of creating an unfair playing field for American businesses. He criticized tariffs, VAT, and European regulations as trade barriers.
Responding to Rose via social media, FM Sikorski thanked the future ambassador for his kind words. “Looks like we will have spirited debates on all aspects of our transatlantic alliance and trade relationship. I look forward to welcoming you in Warsaw,” Poland’s top diplomat added.
However, in a follow-up post, Sikorski clarified that while Ambassador Rose was correct in stating that "VAT incentivizes exports," it is not specifically targeted at the U.S. and is paid by everyone, "not just importers, and not only EU countries use it."
"I once saw calculations suggesting that if the U.S. adopted VAT, it could eliminate income tax," the head of Polish diplomacy noted.
Rose's post sparked significant controversy, with many pointing out the Republican nominee's lack of understanding. Shortly afterward, Rose... deleted his comment.
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Source: IAR/X/@sikorskiradek
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